Apparatus for straightening metal plates



(No Model.) 3 Sheetsv-Sheet I.

AIKEN. APPARATUS 'FOR STRAIGHTE NING METAL PLATES.

N0. 192;951. Patented Mar. 7 189,3.

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H; AIKEN. APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL PLATES.

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(No Model.)

H. AIKEN. APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL PLATES No. 492,951.

Patemted Mar. 7, 1893.

i wrrn asses NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY AIKEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.-

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,951, datedMarch '7,1893.

Application filed June 13, 1892. Serial No. 4.36.451. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY AIKEN, of Pittsburg,1n the county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement inApparatus for Straightening Metal Plates, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichFlgure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and2 which are parts of the same view, show the apparatus 1n verticalsection on the line II-II of Fig. 1; and in like manner Figs. 3 and 3show it 1n vertical section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

The object of my invention is to provide convenient apparatus forplate-mills, by which the metal plates, after they have been deliveredfrom the rolls, can be straightened and removed from the straighteningpress, Without the difficult and tedious hand labor heretofore employedin straightening and handling them. To this end my invention consistsmainly 1n the combination with a straightening press for the plates, ofa conveying table or carrier which leads up to the straightening presslengthwise thereof, so as to bring the plates from the rolls to or inclose proximity to the press; and also in the combination with suchdevices, of a transfer mechanism adapted to shift the plates from theconveying table to the press.

It also consists in an improved straightening-press and in certain othercombinations and features of construction hereinafter de scribed.

The advantages of my invention will-,be appreciated by those skilled inthe art. It results in a saving of labor and time in the straighteningof the plates and thus is a means of economy and profit to themaufacturer.

In the drawings, (Fig. 1) 2 represents a conveying table, comprisingfeed-rollers driven by suitable gearing 3 and adapted to carry ametal-plate in the direction of the arrow, from the table of theplate-rolling mill, not shown.

Extending parallel to the feed-table 2 is the bed 4 of a straighteningpress, which may be edge of the plate is forced to remove theirregularities and curves usual in the plate as it is received from therolls, and to reduce the edge to a true straight line.

The straightening mechanism consists of a series of movable heads-6, 6,set in transverse guide-ways in the bed of the machine, and

adapted to be moved therein by the following mechanism. Each head has arearwardly projecting screw-shaft 7, which passes through a nut 8journaled in suitable bearings 9 in the frame of the straightening pressand having fixed to or integral with it a worm-gear-wheel 10. Theworm-wheels of the several screw shafts of the press are in gear withand adapted to be driven by worms 11 on a shaft 12, which extends alongthe straightening press, parallel therewith, and is journaled insuitable bearings 13. When this shaft is driven, its worms acting 011the worm-wheels simultaneously rotate the nuts 8, thus projecting orretracting the screw shafts, and moving the heads 6 up to the shoulder 5of the straightening bed to straighten an interposed plate, orretracting the heads therefrom, accordingly as the shaft is driven inone direction or the other. The shaft 12 is driven from an engine 14,the power being transmitted to the shaft, preferably by a second shaft15 connected by gearing 16 to the shaft 12 at a middle point, so as toreduce the torsion of the shaft to as low degree as possible.

17 represents a clutch by which the shaft- 12 can be connected with theengine so as to rotate in either direction or disconnected from it, and18 is a similar clutch, performing like functions for the gearing of thefeed-table 2.

The capacity for simultaneous motion of the heads 6 described above, isof advantage, because of the rapidity of action of the machine, and theaccuracy with which the plates are straightened by reason thereof.

The plates are transferred from thetable 2 to the straightening-pressbed by mechanism; preferably constructed as followsz-Parallel ICOendless chains 19 extend between some of the rollers of theconveyingtable and within transverse grooves or gaps 25 formed in thesurface of the straightening-press bed, and preferably extend also toand across a second conveying-table 20, having driven feed-rollers andleading to shears 21. The figures on Sheets 2 and 3 of the drawings showhow the upper and lower branches of the chain may be supported and showthe chain sprocketwheels 22 and 22 set on shafts 23 and 23 at the outersides of the tables 2 and 20. The sprocket-wheel-shaft 23 is driven byappropriate gearing 24, and by actuating the same the chains may becaused to move and to perform their conveying function as hereinafterexplained.

To lift the upper branches of the endless chains in order that theplates to be carried thereby may be lifted from or lowered upon theirsupports (the conveying tables 2 and 20 and the press-bed 4), I may usethe following mechanism, though other devices forthe purpose may besubstituted: The upper branch of the chain is supported by guide orchannel pieces 26, and at the ends of the course of the chain, near thetwo conveying-tables, the channel-pieces are made of pivotally connectedsections supported by links 27 from crank-arms 28 on shafts 29. The twoshafts 29 are connected with each other by arms 30 and a connecting rod31, and the latter is connected also by rods 32 with the plunger of amotive cylinder 33. By actuating this cylinder, the shafts areoscillated and the guides carrying the chains are lifted above the levelof the conveying-table and straighteningpress bed, or lowered below thesame, accordingly as the cylinder is actuated in one direction or theother.

I shall now describe the operation of the parts when constructed asdescribed above. The metal plate is delivered from the rollingmillfeed-table upon the rollers of the conveying-table 2, and is carriedthereby opposite to the straighteningpress bed and over the endlesschains. Then to transfer the plate to the straightenil'ig-press, theguides 26 are elevated as already explained, so as to lift the platefrom the feed-rollers, and the endless chains are driven sufiiciently tocarry the plate directly above the bed 4. The guides are then lowered,the effect of which is to deposit the plate upon the straighteningpressbed, whereupon, by driving the shaft 12, the several heads 6 will beprojected simultaneously and will force the plate edgewise against theshoulder 5, thereby straightening the edges and bringing them intoproper alignment. The heads 6 may then be retracted by reversing theirshaft 12, and the chain lifted so as to raise the plate above thepress-bed and to permit it to be carried by the chain to and over thetable 20 upon which it is deposited by lowering the guides, and by whichit may be carried to the shears 21. In practice I prefer to operate theconveying mechanism step by step, advancing the plate each time upon thechains a distance about equal to its width. In this way, at each step aplate is deposited on the table 20, one put upon the press-table 4 andanother removed therefrom, a succession of plates being upon theapparatus at once. In this way the work is rendered continuous, andopportun ty given to the plates to cool uniformly, with both sidesexposed to the air before they reach the shears, thus preventing warpingand distortion which are apt to result when the plates are thrown uponthe floor to cool.

The apparatus constructed as shown in the drawings is made the subjectof specific claim herein, and possesses many inherent advantages inrespect of compactness of arrangement and ease and efliciency ofoperation. The broader claims of this application are, however, notlimited thereto and the constructions referred to therein may bemodified. For example, the mechanism may be arranged so that the plateafterbeing straightened is carried back to the table 2 and thenceremoved, or may be carried off from the straightening-press by aconveying mechanism extending otherwise than at right angles to thepress-bed, and changes in the details of construction of the parts maybe made.

I claim 1. In apparatus for manufacturing metal plates, the combinationwith a straightening bed provided with transverse gaps, aconveying-table, and transfer chains extending in the gaps of the bed,mechanism for driving the chain, and mechanism for moving the samevertically to engage and deposit the plates; substantially as and forthe purposes described.

2. In apparatus for manufacturing metal plates, the combination of twoparallel con- Veying-tables, an intermediate straightening press, andtransfer chains extending between the tables and across the press, andadapted to shift the plates from the first table to the press, and fromthe press to the second table, mechanism for moving the chains totransfer the plates, and mechanism for lifting the chains; substantiallyas and for the purposes described.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing metal plates, the combination ofconveying tables, leading from the rolls and to the shears respectively,a transverse transfer device, and an interposed straightening-press;substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In apparatus for manufacturing metal plates, the combination with astraighteningpress having a bed adapted to receive a metal plate, andheads movable to straighten the plate, of a conveying-table leading upto the straightening-press, transfer mechanism leading across theconveying-table and press, and mechanism for moving the same vertically;substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In apparatus for manufacturing metal plates, the combination with astraighteningpress having a bed adapted to receive a metalplate, andheads movable to straighten the plate, of a conveying-table leadinguptto the straightening-press, and transfer mechanism consisting ofendless conveyer chains; extending across the press-bed substantially asand for the purposes described.

6. In apparatus for manufacturing metal plates, the combination of astraightening bed having transverse gaps, a feed-table, comprisingdriven rollers, adjacent thereto, endless conveying chains extendingthrough the gaps and between the rollers, guides for the

